NEW CHESTNUT PLANTING IN SCOTTSVILLE, KENTUCKY

 DuMont Hill Park is the latest addition to the Scottsville, KY city park system and is the site of a new chestnut planting. The park includes 67 acres of rolling hills, hardwood forests and creeks and is being developed for hiking, mountain biking, nature study and historic preservation. A two mile system of trails descends from hilltop to the banks of Bays Fork Creek, passing along the way the encampment site of General DuMont's federal army troops during the War Between the States.

 Near the highest elevation in the park, volunteers Jack Bransford and Bradley Shaw from the City of Scottsville, County Extension Agent Steve Osborne, Heart of Scottsville Executive Director Heath Seymour and TACF members Arles Weaver and Greg Weaver planted 37 American chestnuts and 15 Chinese chestnuts by direct seeding, using Tubex tree shelters to protect the seeds. The orchard is located near one of the main entry points into the trail system.

 The chestnut planting is part of the strategic plan to develop the park as a recreational and educational resource. Historically, American chestnut trees were common in the area and the trees will serve to educate the public about the American chestnut, its decline and the work to restore it.

Submitted by Greg Weaver (Oct. 1, 2009)